"There were many other factors, too. The situation was not easy but I was in a luxury position."

General manager Klaus Allofs rejected reports that Wolfsburg paid €22 million for the player and had put Gustavo on a €8 million salary.

"That overstates the case," Allofs said, before adding that he was "delighted to have beaten international competition to the signature of Gustavo".

He also played down the involvement of Volkswagen in the transfer -- VW own Wolfsburg, while the company's chairman Martin Winterkorn is on the Bayern board. “VW might have encouraged us, but that’s all,” Allofs added.